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[Footnote: The Birth of Prince Arthur]
BY A GENTLEMAN OF THE FOOT-GUARDS (BLUE).
W. MAKEPEACE THACKERAY.

I paced upon my beat
With steady step and slow,
All huppandownd of Ranelagh-street;
Ran’lagh, St. Pimlico.

While marching huppandownd
Upon that fair May morn,
Beold the booming cannings sound,
A royal child is born!

The Ministers of State
Then presnly I sor,
They gallops to the Pallis gate,
In carridges and for.

With anxious looks intent,
Before the gate they stop,
There comes the good Lord President,
And there the Archbishopp.

Lord John he next elights;
And who comes here in haste?
‘Tis the ero of one underd fights,
The caudle for to taste.

Then Mrs. Lily, the nuss,
Toward them steps with joy;
Say the brave old Duke, “Come tell to us
Is it a gal or a boy?”

Says Mrs. L. to the Duke,
“Your Grace, it is a PRINCE.”
And at that nuss’s bold rebuke,
He did both laugh and wince.

He vews with pleasant look
This pooty flower of May,
Then says the wenerable Duke,
“Egad, its my buthday.”

By memory backards borne,
Peraps his thoughts did stray
To that old place where he was born
Upon the first of May.

Peraps he did recal
The ancient towers of Trim;
And County Meath and Dangan Hall
They did rewisit him.

I phansy of him so
His good old thoughts employin;
Fourscore years and one ago
Beside the flowin’ Boyne.

His father praps he sees,
Most musicle of Lords,
A playing maddrigles and glees
Upon the Arpsicords.

Jest phansy this old Ero
Upon his mother’s knee!
Did ever lady in this land
Ave greater sons than she?

And I shouldn be surprise
While this was in his mind,
If a drop there twinkled in his eyes
Of unfamiliar brind.

* * * *

To Hapsly Ouse next day
Drives up a Broosh and for,
A gracious prince sits in that Shay
(I mention him with Hor!)

They ring upon the bell,
The Porter shows his ed,
(He fought at Vaterloo as vell,
And vears a veskit red.)

To see that carriage come
The people round it press:
“And is the galliant Duke at ome?”
“Your Royal Ighness, yes.”

He stepps from out the Broosh
And in the gate is gone,
And X, although the people push,
Says wery kind “Move hon.”

The Royal Prince unto
The galliant Duke did say,
“Dear Duke, my little son and you
Was born the self-same day.

“The lady of the land,
My wife and Sovring dear,
It is by her horgust command
I wait upon you here.

“That lady is as well
As can expected be;
And to your Grace she bid me tell
This gracious message free.

“That offspring of our race,
Whom yesterday you see,
To show our honor for your Grace,
Prince Arthur he shall be.

“That name it rhymes to fame;
All Europe knows the sound;
And I couldn’t find a better name
If you’d give me twenty pound.

“King Arthur had his knights
That girt his table round,
But you have won a hundred fights,
Will match ’em, I’ll be bound.

“You fought with Bonypart,
And likewise Tippoo Saib;
I name you then, with all my heart,
The Godsire of this babe.”

That Prince his leave was took,
His hinterview was done.
So let us give the good old Duke
Good luck of his god-son,

And wish him years of joy
In this our time of Schism,
And hope he’ll hear the royal boy
His little catechism.

And my pooty little Prince
That’s come our arts to cheer,
Let me my loyal powers ewince
A welcomin of you ere.

And the Poit-Laureat’s crownd,
I think, in some respex,
Egstremely shootable might be found
For honest Pleaseman X.